A Guide To Teaching Elementary Science

Author : Yvette F. Greenspan
Publisher : Springer
Page : 150 pages
File Size : 40,6 Mb
Release : 2015-12-21
Category : Education
ISBN : 9789463003674

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A Guide to Teaching Elementary Science by Yvette F. Greenspan Pdf

Nationally and internationally, educators now understand the critical importance of STEM subjects—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Today, the job of the classroom science teacher demands finding effective ways to meet current curricula standards and prepare students for a future in which a working knowledge of science and technology will dominate. But standards and goals don’t mean a thing unless we: • grab students’ attention; • capture and deepen children’s natural curiosity; • create an exciting learning environment that engages the learner; and • make science come alive inside and outside the classroom setting. A Guide to Teaching Elementary Science: Ten Easy Steps gives teachers, at all stages of classroom experience, exactly what the title implies. Written by lifelong educator Yvette Greenspan, this book is designed for busy classroom teachers who face tough conditions, from overcrowded classrooms to shrinking budgets, and too often end up anxious and overwhelmed by the challenges ahead and their desire for an excellent science program. This book: • helps teachers develop curricula compatible with the Next Generation Science Standards and the Common Core Standards; • provides easy-to-implement steps for setting up a science classroom, plus strategies for using all available resources to assemble needed teaching materials; • offers detailed sample lesson plans in each STEM subject, adaptable to age and ability and designed to embrace the needs of all learners; and • presents bonus information about organizing field trips and managing science fairs. Without question, effective science curricula can help students develop critical thinking skills and a lifelong passion for science. Yvette Greenspan received her doctorate degree in science education and has developed science curriculum at all levels. A career spent in teaching elementary students in an urban community, she now instructs college students, sharing her love for the teaching and learning of science. She considers it essential to encourage today’s students to be active learners and to concentrate on STEM topics that will help prepare them for the real world.

Author : National Science Resources Center of the National Academy of Sciences and the Smithsonian Institution
Publisher : National Academies Press
Page : 289 pages
File Size : 40,5 Mb
Release : 1996-04-11
Category : Education
ISBN : 9780309560856

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Resources for Teaching Elementary School Science by National Science Resources Center of the National Academy of Sciences and the Smithsonian Institution Pdf

What activities might a teacher use to help children explore the life cycle of butterflies? What does a science teacher need to conduct a "leaf safari" for students? Where can children safely enjoy hands-on experience with life in an estuary? Selecting resources to teach elementary school science can be confusing and difficult, but few decisions have greater impact on the effectiveness of science teaching. Educators will find a wealth of information and expert guidance to meet this need in Resources for Teaching Elementary School Science. A completely revised edition of the best-selling resource guide Science for Children: Resources for Teachers, this new book is an annotated guide to hands-on, inquiry-centered curriculum materials and sources of help in teaching science from kindergarten through sixth grade. (Companion volumes for middle and high school are planned.) The guide annotates about 350 curriculum packages, describing the activities involved and what students learn. Each annotation lists recommended grade levels, accompanying materials and kits or suggested equipment, and ordering information. These 400 entries were reviewed by both educators and scientists to ensure that they are accurate and current and offer students the opportunity to: Ask questions and find their own answers. Experiment productively. Develop patience, persistence, and confidence in their own ability to solve real problems. The entries in the curriculum section are grouped by scientific area--Life Science, Earth Science, Physical Science, and Multidisciplinary and Applied Science--and by type--core materials, supplementary materials, and science activity books. Additionally, a section of references for teachers provides annotated listings of books about science and teaching, directories and guides to science trade books, and magazines that will help teachers enhance their students' science education. Resources for Teaching Elementary School Science also lists by region and state about 600 science centers, museums, and zoos where teachers can take students for interactive science experiences. Annotations highlight almost 300 facilities that make significant efforts to help teachers. Another section describes more than 100 organizations from which teachers can obtain more resources. And a section on publishers and suppliers give names and addresses of sources for materials. The guide will be invaluable to teachers, principals, administrators, teacher trainers, science curriculum specialists, and advocates of hands-on science teaching, and it will be of interest to parent-teacher organizations and parents.

Author : National Science Resources Center of the National Academy of Sciences and the Smithsonian Institution
Publisher : National Academies Press
Page : 313 pages
File Size : 52,9 Mb
Release : 1996-04-28
Category : Education
ISBN : 9780309052931

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Resources for Teaching Elementary School Science by National Science Resources Center of the National Academy of Sciences and the Smithsonian Institution Pdf

What activities might a teacher use to help children explore the life cycle of butterflies? What does a science teacher need to conduct a "leaf safari" for students? Where can children safely enjoy hands-on experience with life in an estuary? Selecting resources to teach elementary school science can be confusing and difficult, but few decisions have greater impact on the effectiveness of science teaching. Educators will find a wealth of information and expert guidance to meet this need in Resources for Teaching Elementary School Science. A completely revised edition of the best-selling resource guide Science for Children: Resources for Teachers, this new book is an annotated guide to hands-on, inquiry-centered curriculum materials and sources of help in teaching science from kindergarten through sixth grade. (Companion volumes for middle and high school are planned.) The guide annotates about 350 curriculum packages, describing the activities involved and what students learn. Each annotation lists recommended grade levels, accompanying materials and kits or suggested equipment, and ordering information. These 400 entries were reviewed by both educators and scientists to ensure that they are accurate and current and offer students the opportunity to: Ask questions and find their own answers. Experiment productively. Develop patience, persistence, and confidence in their own ability to solve real problems. The entries in the curriculum section are grouped by scientific areaâ€"Life Science, Earth Science, Physical Science, and Multidisciplinary and Applied Scienceâ€"and by typeâ€"core materials, supplementary materials, and science activity books. Additionally, a section of references for teachers provides annotated listings of books about science and teaching, directories and guides to science trade books, and magazines that will help teachers enhance their students' science education. Resources for Teaching Elementary School Science also lists by region and state about 600 science centers, museums, and zoos where teachers can take students for interactive science experiences. Annotations highlight almost 300 facilities that make significant efforts to help teachers. Another section describes more than 100 organizations from which teachers can obtain more resources. And a section on publishers and suppliers give names and addresses of sources for materials. The guide will be invaluable to teachers, principals, administrators, teacher trainers, science curriculum specialists, and advocates of hands-on science teaching, and it will be of interest to parent-teacher organizations and parents.

Author : Center for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Education,National Science Resources Center of the National Academy of Sciences and the Smithsonian Institution
Publisher : National Academies Press
Page : 223 pages
File Size : 49,9 Mb
Release : 1997-01-22
Category : Education
ISBN : 9780309552813

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Science for All Children by Center for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Education,National Science Resources Center of the National Academy of Sciences and the Smithsonian Institution Pdf

Remember the first time you planted a seed and watched it sprout? Or explored how a magnet attracted a nail? If these questions bring back memories of joy and wonder, then you understand the idea behind inquiry-based science--an approach to science education that challenges children to ask questions, solve problems, and develop scientific skills as well as gain knowledge. Inquiry-based science is based on research and experience, both of which confirm that children learn science best when they engage in hands-on science activities rather than read from a textbook. The recent National Science Education Standards prepared by the National Research Council call for a revolution in science education. They stress that the science taught must be based on active inquiry and that science should become a core activity in every grade, starting in kindergarten. This easy-to-read and practical book shows how to bring about the changes recommended in the standards. It provides guidelines for planning and implementing an inquiry-based science program in any school district. The book is divided into three parts. "Building a Foundation for Change," presents a rationale for inquiry-based science and describes how teaching through inquiry supports the way children naturally learn. It concludes with basic guidelines for planning a program. School administrators, teachers, and parents will be especially interested in the second part, "The Nuts and Bolts of Change." This section describes the five building blocks of an elementary science program: Community and administrative support. A developmentally appropriate curriculum. Opportunities for professional development. Materials support. Appropriate assessment tools. Together, these five elements provide a working model of how to implement hands-on science. The third part, "Inquiry-Centered Science in Practice," presents profiles of the successful inquiry-based science programs in districts nationwide. These profiles show how the principles of hands-on science can be adapted to different school settings. If you want to improve the way science is taught in the elementary schools in your community, Science for All Children is an indispensable resource.

Author : Sandra K. Abell,Ken Appleton,Deborah L. Hanuscin
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 320 pages
File Size : 50,8 Mb
Release : 2010-02-25
Category : Education
ISBN : 9781135281342

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Designing and Teaching the Elementary Science Methods Course by Sandra K. Abell,Ken Appleton,Deborah L. Hanuscin Pdf

What do aspiring and practicing elementary science teacher education faculty need to know as they plan and carry out instruction for future elementary science teachers? This scholarly and practical guide for science teacher educators outlines the theory, principles, and strategies needed, and provides classroom examples anchored to those principles. The theoretical and empirical foundations are supported by scholarship in the field, and the practical examples are derived from activities, lessons, and units field-tested in the authors’ elementary science methods courses. Designing and Teaching the Elementary Science Methods Course is grounded in the theoretical framework of pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), which describes how teachers transform subject matter knowledge into viable instruction in their discipline. Chapters on science methods students as learners, the science methods course curriculum, instructional strategies, methods course assessment, and the field experience help readers develop their PCK for teaching prospective elementary science teachers. "Activities that Work" and "Tools for Teaching the Methods Course" provide useful examples for putting this knowledge into action in the elementary science methods course.

Author : Christine D. Tippett,Todd M. Milford
Publisher : Springer Nature
Page : 237 pages
File Size : 52,5 Mb
Release : 2023-04-01
Category : Science
ISBN : 9783031239366

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Exploring Elementary Science Teaching and Learning in Canada by Christine D. Tippett,Todd M. Milford Pdf

This edited volume showcases current science education research in Canada, from pre-Kindergarten to Grade 7, conducted in Canada by a diverse group of researchers from across the country. We draw on the themes that emerged from our previous book, Science Education in Canada: Consistencies, Commonalities, and Distinctions, to guide the structure of this book on elementary science education research. In particular, chapters on science teacher preparation; Indigenous perspectives; environmental education; science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); and science, technology, society, and the environment (STSE) reflect a Canadian perspective. However, these themes are of global interest and authors include ideas for how science education research in Canada might be used by academics and researchers in other countries. This book builds a cohesive picture of current elementary science education research in Canada, highlighting themes that will resonate with international readers.

Author : Wynne Harlen
Publisher : Heinemann Educational Books
Page : 160 pages
File Size : 51,7 Mb
Release : 2015
Category : Education
ISBN : 0325061599

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Teaching Science for Understanding in Elementary and Middle Schools by Wynne Harlen Pdf

"This book comes at just the right time, as teachers are being encouraged to re-examine current approaches to science instruction." -Lynn Rankin, Director, Institute for Inquiry, Exploratorium "Easy to read and comprehend with very explicit examples, it will be foundational for classroom teachers as they journey from novice teacher of science to expert." -Jo Anne Vasquez, Ph.D., Past President of the National Science Teachers Association "Teaching Science for Understanding is a comprehensive, exquisitely written guide and well-illustrated resource for high quality teaching and learning of inquiry-based science." -Hubert M. Dyasi, Ph.D., Professor of Science, City College and City University of New York Even though there is an unending supply of science textbooks, kits, and other resources, the practice of teaching science is more challenging than simply setting up an experiment. In Teaching Science for Understanding in Elementary and Middle Schools, Wynne Harlen focuses on why developing understanding is essential in science education and how best to engage students in activities that deepen their curiosity about the world and promote enjoyment of science. Teaching Science for Understanding in Elementary and Middle Schools centers on how to build on the ideas your students already have to cultivate the thinking and skills necessary for developing an understanding of the scientific aspects of the world, including: helping students develop and use the skills of investigation drawing conclusions from data through analyzing, interpreting, and explaining creating classrooms that encourage students to explain and justify their thinking asking productive questions to support students' understanding. Through classroom vignettes, examples, and practical suggestions at the end of each chapter, Wynne provides a compelling vision of what can be achieved through science education...and strategies that you can implement in your classroom right now.

Author : Smithsonian Institution,National Academy of Engineering,National Science Resources Center of the National Academy of Sciences,Institute of Medicine
Publisher : National Academies Press
Page : 496 pages
File Size : 49,8 Mb
Release : 1998-03-30
Category : Education
ISBN : 9780309174749

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Resources for Teaching Middle School Science by Smithsonian Institution,National Academy of Engineering,National Science Resources Center of the National Academy of Sciences,Institute of Medicine Pdf

With age-appropriate, inquiry-centered curriculum materials and sound teaching practices, middle school science can capture the interest and energy of adolescent students and expand their understanding of the world around them. Resources for Teaching Middle School Science, developed by the National Science Resources Center (NSRC), is a valuable tool for identifying and selecting effective science curriculum materials that will engage students in grades 6 through 8. The volume describes more than 400 curriculum titles that are aligned with the National Science Education Standards. This completely new guide follows on the success of Resources for Teaching Elementary School Science, the first in the NSRC series of annotated guides to hands-on, inquiry-centered curriculum materials and other resources for science teachers. The curriculum materials in the new guide are grouped in five chapters by scientific areaâ€"Physical Science, Life Science, Environmental Science, Earth and Space Science, and Multidisciplinary and Applied Science. They are also grouped by typeâ€"core materials, supplementary units, and science activity books. Each annotation of curriculum material includes a recommended grade level, a description of the activities involved and of what students can be expected to learn, a list of accompanying materials, a reading level, and ordering information. The curriculum materials included in this book were selected by panels of teachers and scientists using evaluation criteria developed for the guide. The criteria reflect and incorporate goals and principles of the National Science Education Standards. The annotations designate the specific content standards on which these curriculum pieces focus. In addition to the curriculum chapters, the guide contains six chapters of diverse resources that are directly relevant to middle school science. Among these is a chapter on educational software and multimedia programs, chapters on books about science and teaching, directories and guides to science trade books, and periodicals for teachers and students. Another section features institutional resources. One chapter lists about 600 science centers, museums, and zoos where teachers can take middle school students for interactive science experiences. Another chapter describes nearly 140 professional associations and U.S. government agencies that offer resources and assistance. Authoritative, extensive, and thoroughly indexedâ€"and the only guide of its kindâ€"Resources for Teaching Middle School Science will be the most used book on the shelf for science teachers, school administrators, teacher trainers, science curriculum specialists, advocates of hands-on science teaching, and concerned parents.

Author : Mary Lewis Sivertsen
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 24 pages
File Size : 53,5 Mb
Release : 1993
Category : Curriculum
ISBN : UIUC:30112106854794

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State of the Art by Mary Lewis Sivertsen Pdf

A comprehensive reform of the science curriculum and the methods of teaching and assessing science instruction is underway. This booklet shares ideas drawn from research and promising practices in science education. These ideas are addressed specifically to educators, but are important to anybody concerned with science education in elementary, middle, and junior high schools. Each of the following topics is presented on a single page: (1) Science is for all students; (2) Setting science standards provides a valuable resource for improved instruction; (3) Students learn by "constructing" knowledge; (4) Hands-on, inquiry-based instruction is well established as an effective teaching strategy; (5) Exploration, dialogue, and discourse promote understanding; (6) Instruction should focus on the essential key concepts or ideas of science in the overfull science curriculum and on teaching them more effectively; (7) The teacher's role is changing to facilitate student learning, while the student becomes a more active learner; (8) Appropriate staff development brings lasting improvements in science teaching; (9) Assessment must be more closely aligned with the goals of science instruction; and (10) Families and other concerned adults play important roles in promoting science education. (Contains 22 references.) (PR)

Author : Terry Kwan,Juliana Texley
Publisher : NSTA Press
Page : 134 pages
File Size : 47,6 Mb
Release : 2009-06-09
Category : Education
ISBN : 9781935155584

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Exploring Safely: A Guide to Elementary Teachers by Terry Kwan,Juliana Texley Pdf

Author : Sandra E. Cain,Jack M. Evans
Publisher : Prentice Hall
Page : 444 pages
File Size : 40,7 Mb
Release : 1990
Category : Education
ISBN : UVA:X001848181

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Sciencing by Sandra E. Cain,Jack M. Evans Pdf

Author : Rita Langley
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 296 pages
File Size : 47,9 Mb
Release : 1968
Category : Science
ISBN : UOM:39015012827260

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Teaching Elementary Science by Rita Langley Pdf

Author : Elizabeth A. Davis,Carla Zembal-Saul,Sylvie M. Kademian
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 265 pages
File Size : 44,8 Mb
Release : 2019-10-16
Category : Education
ISBN : 9780429761195

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Sensemaking in Elementary Science by Elizabeth A. Davis,Carla Zembal-Saul,Sylvie M. Kademian Pdf

Grounded in empirical research, this book offers concrete pathways to direct attention towards elementary science teaching that privileges sensemaking, rather than isolated activities and vocabulary. Outlining a clear vision for this shift using research-backed tools, pedagogies, and practices to support teacher learning and development, this edited volume reveals how teachers can best engage in teaching that supports meaningful learning and understanding in elementary science classrooms. Divided into three sections, this book demonstrates the skills, knowledge bases, and research-driven practices necessary to make a fundamental shift towards a focus on students’ ideas and reasoning, and covers topics such as: An introduction to sensemaking in elementary science; Positioning students at the center of sensemaking; Planning and enacting investigation-based science discussions; Designing a practice-based elementary teacher education program; Reflections on science teacher education and professional development for reform-based elementary science. In line with current reform efforts, including the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Sensemaking in Elementary Science is the perfect resource for graduate students and researchers in science education, elementary education, teacher education, and STEM education looking to explore effective practice, approaches, and development within the elementary science classroom.

Author : Lauren Madden
Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield
Page : 217 pages
File Size : 40,7 Mb
Release : 2022-01-12
Category : Education
ISBN : 9781538127131

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Elementary Science Methods by Lauren Madden Pdf

As teachers and parents, we often hear that children are the best scientists. Great science teachers tune in to children’s interests and observations to create engaging and effective lessons. This focus on the innate curiosity of children, or humans overall is celebrated and used to justify and support efforts around STEM teaching and learning. Yet, when we discuss elementary school teachers, we often hear many inside and outside the classroom report that these teachers dislike, fear, and feel uncomfortable with science. This is exactly the opposite approach from what is universally recommended by science education scholars. This practical textbook meets the immediate, contextual needs of future and current elementary teachers by using an assets-based approach to science teaching, showing how to create inquiry-based lessons, differentiate instruction and lesson design based on children’s developmental ages and needs, and providing easy-to-use tools to advocate for scientific teaching and learning guided by the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

Author : Karen Rohrich Ansberry,Emily Rachel Morgan
Publisher : NSTA Press
Page : 422 pages
File Size : 54,9 Mb
Release : 2010
Category : Education
ISBN : 9781936137725

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Picture-Perfect Science Lessons by Karen Rohrich Ansberry,Emily Rachel Morgan Pdf

In this newly revised and expanded 2nd edition of Picture-Perfect Science Lessons, classroom veterans Karen Ansberry and Emily Morgan, who also coach teachers through nationwide workshops, offer time-crunched elementary educators comprehensive background notes to each chapter, new reading strategies, and show how to combine science and reading in a natural way with classroom-tested lessons in physical science, life science, and Earth and space science.